The synthesis and characterization of a new N-annulated perylene diimide conjugated molecule bearing a unique ammonium-amino side chain (PDIN-A) is reported. The material is synthesized reproducibly by sequential SN2 reactions, the simplicity of which enables high yields at scale, and exhibits amphiphilic behavior with high solubility in both polar and nonpolar solvents. Organic photovoltaic devices fabricated using PDIN-A as a cathode interlayer had a maximum power conversion efficiency of 16.17%. Critical is that all tested devices exhibited higher stability when compared to control devices using the now standard PDINN interlayer.
Grant et al. (Fri,) studied this question.